Roop Kumar Rathod is an Indian playback singer and classical vocalist known for his work in Hindi film music, ghazals, and devotional genres. Trained in Hindustani classical music, he is recognised for his rendition of soulful and Sufi-influenced songs in Bollywood from the early 2000s onwards. He is the brother of singer Sulakshana Pandit's contemporaries in classical music and is married to ghazal singer Sunali Rathod.
| Profession | Playback singer, ghazal and classical vocalist |
|---|---|
| Genres | Hindustani classical, ghazal, Sufi, Hindi film playback |
| Languages | Hindi, Urdu, and others |
| Spouse | Sunali Rathod (ghazal singer) |
| Father | Pandit Chaturbhuj Rathod (classical vocalist) |
| Notable songs | "Tere Bin" (Bas Ek Pal), "Maula Mere Maula" (Anwar), "Tujh Mein Rab Dikhta Hai" (Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi) |
Roop Kumar Rathod was born into a musical family. His father, Pandit Chaturbhuj Rathod, was a classical vocalist, and Roop Kumar received early training in Hindustani classical music from him. He initially worked as a tabla player, accompanying leading vocalists in concerts before establishing himself as a singer. His grounding in classical traditions has remained a defining feature of his style as a playback artist.
Before his prominence in films, Rathod recorded several ghazal albums, often in partnership with his wife Sunali Rathod. The duo became known for refined ghazal renditions in the tradition of contemporary Indian ghazal singing. He has also recorded devotional and Sufi-themed albums.
Rathod gained wide recognition in Hindi cinema with the song "Maula Mere Maula" from the film Anwar (2007), composed by Mithoon. The song became one of the most acclaimed Sufi-flavoured numbers of the decade. His other widely heard tracks include:
He has worked with composers including Mithoon, Salim–Sulaiman, A. R. Rahman, Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy, and Pritam, among others.
Rathod's voice is associated with a melodic, classical-leaning texture that lends itself to introspective, devotional, and romantic compositions. His rise in the 2000s coincided with a renewed interest in Sufi and ghazal-inflected songs in Hindi cinema, and he became one of the prominent voices for that idiom alongside contemporaries such as Kailash Kher and Rashid Khan. He continues to perform live in India and internationally, often presenting ghazal and classical concerts with Sunali Rathod.
Roop Kumar Rathod is married to Sunali Rathod, with whom he has frequently performed and recorded. The couple is based in Mumbai.